WHEREAS, in 2015, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District celebrates 70 years of working to promote conservation education and provide leadership, technical assistance, and outreach programs to ensure the sustainability of the region's natural resources; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1945 by a group of concerned citizens, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is one of 47 conservation districts in the Commonwealth and one of approximately 3,000 such districts nationwide; and

WHEREAS, governed by a five-member board of directors and staffed by dedicated conservation professionals, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District works to lessen the effects of urban and suburban expansion on land and water resources in Fairfax County, both of which are critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and

WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District collaborates with government agencies, the business community, and members of the public, and it has benefited from the generous assistance of countless volunteers over the years; and

WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District offers technical services, resource materials, and educational programs on water quality, nonpoint source pollution, and stream health and provides relevant guidance to students, farmers, and businesses; and

WHEREAS, an active and recognizable force for good in the community, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District connects local residents to programs and opportunities through the Watershed Calendar, listservs, and a quarterly newsletter; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District hereby be commended for its service to the Commonwealth on the occasion of its 70th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for its efforts to safeguard the Commonwealth's valuable natural resources.